Display booth



March 1, 1938. H. R. HOKE DISPLAY 500m Filed Oct. 8. 1936 2 Shets-She et 1 1 1 1111 11 11 I I I 1 I 11: 1111111111 1111 1TB 7 ATTORNEYS March 1, 1938. H. R. HOKE DISPLAY BOOTH Filed Oct. 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVINTOR. Av/CQ ATTORNEYS 1 3 7 1 0 5 5 3 5 0 2.0 4 4 3 0 x 2 4 4 QM 4/ Yr. 2 5 5 z 2 2% 7 6 6 4 .Ma 4 7 m 1 2 7 2 7 WJ 5 1/ M 1 8 a M 46 H 2 2 @0 D04 1 22 1 12 2 5 2 4 Z 11 mm Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES DISPLAY BOOTH Henry R. Hoke, Garden City, N. Y.

Application October 8,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to display booths of the general character employed in displaying various products and articles of commerce to the trade through or by the aid of such public functions as trade conventions and exhibitions.

Functions of the above character are usually housed in hotels and other public institutions, from the management of which it is customary for the exhibitors to lease not only booth space but also the booths themselves, in connection with the latter of which charges are made to the lessee for erecting the booths and conditioning them to meet the needs and demands of the various exhibitors. Obviously the labor and other items involved in erecting special booths preparatory to the holding of a convention or exhibition and in dismantling such booths upon conclusion of the function represents a substantial expense to all concerned parties and is otherwise objectionable from varied viewpoints.

An important object of the present invention is to overcome the various objections heretofore encountered in connection with the matter of satisfying the booth requirements of the exhibitors at such trade functions as conventions and exhibitions, and to that end I contemplate a unitary structure, wherein the component elements are so standardized and are so related to each other that they may be quickly assembled to produce a booth which is attractive in appearance, highly satisfactory from a utilitarian standpoint, easily disassembled and capable of being packed for either storage or shipment in a relatively compact knocked-down condition with a consequent saving of storage space when packed away for future use, in situ, and with an equal saving of space and a corresponding saving of transportation charges when shipped from place to place.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a display booth embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view of the component elements of one pillar showing them in nested relation, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing 1936, Serial No. 104,587

in detail means for connecting adjacent pillar units together in a superimposed relation.

The apparatus embodying the invention comprises essentially a pair of substantially identical pillars S, a pair of tie rods 1 and 8 detachably connected to the pillars, a curtain-like background element it suspended from the upper tie rod and overlying the lower tie rod, a display panel I! detachably suspended from the upper tie rod and overlyingthe lower tie rod, and a sign unit 92 detachably supported by the uppermost tie rod in a position adjacent the upper end of the display panel.

Considering particularly the pillars 6, it is to be observed that each of them includesa plurality of cooperatively related pillar units i4, i5,

and it which are graduated in size according to the positions which they occupy in the pillar, the largest being at the base of the pillar, the next largest being at an intermediate position in the u pillar, and the smallest being at the top of the pillar. are identical in that they each include a bottom wall H, a front wall it and a pair of side walls units, it will be observed that they are each provided with a top wall 2| which terminates short of the front wall l8 so as to provide a light-emitting opening 22, through which light rays may be directed upwardly to produce a flood-light effect with relation to the front walls of the intcrmeiate and uppermost pillar units, it being observed that'ample space is allowed between adjacent'front walls, as shown at 24, to permit unobstructed passage of light for the purpose menlocated in the lowermost pillar unit, and the other of which is located in the intermediate pillar unit, the lamps being permanently held by suitable means in their respective positions and partially housed by suitable guards26 attached at opposite ends to adjacent front and top walls i8 and 25. Although the uppermost pillar unit it is provided with a top wall Zia, which corresponds to the top walls 2! of the remaining pillar units, it lacks the primary function of the top walls 21! and is included merely for the purpose of lending .a finished appearance to the pillar in general. v

Inasmuch as the transverse (depth) dimensions of the several pillar units M, 15, and iii progressively decrease, it will be appreciated that As to the lowermost and intermediate pillar The several pillar units l4, l5, and I6 when they are assembled as shown in Fig. 1 the pillar of which they form parts will present a stepped appearance at its front, which adds to the attractiveness of the design in its entirety; and since the side walls 20 of the intermediate pillar unit l5 are so spaced from each other as to snugly fit intermediate the walls 2i! of the pillar unit I4, as is also true of the side walls 29 of the pillar unit l 6 with respect to the side walls 23 of the pillar unit IS, the pillar will present a stepped appearance also at each side thereof, which, although less pronounced than the stepped presentation at the front thereof, is sufliciently prominent to add to the general appearance and attractiveness of the design.

In order that the pillar units l4, l5, and it may be interlocked together and held in a rigid relation there are provided, as between the pillar units l4 and I5 and the pillar units i5 and i8, apair of locking units 21, the details of one of which are shown most clearly in Fig. 6. Each of these locking units includes a locking plate 28 having an elongated slot 39 formed therein.

These locking plates are suitably connected, as

by bolts 3|, to the bottom wall ll of the respective pillar units 5 and 20 with their openings 39 disposed in registration with lug-receiving pockets 32 with which the respective bottom walls l? are provided. Each of the locking units 2? further includes an anchor plate 34, to which is suitably connected a locking lug 35, having a laterally extending toe portion 35. The anchor plates 34 are suitably connected, as by bolts 3?, to the top walls H of the respective pillar units I l and I5, and are disposed in such positions thereon that their associated lugs 35 are adapted to pass through the elongated slots 38 of the locking plates 28 and enter the lug-receiving pockets 32 formed in the bottom walls ll of the pillar units l5 and I6. From the foregoing, it will be understood that when one pillar unit is superimposed on another, as for example the pillar unit I5 on the pillar unit M, such units may be effectively locked together by so shifting the uppermost unit that the locking-lug toe por tion 36 will assume an effective locking position with relation to its cooperatively associated looking plate 28, as shown in Fig. 6. By the aid of the locking units 21 just described, the pillar units l4, I5, and i6 may be not only quickly interlocked and held in an assembled relation but may be also quickly disconnected from one another, as for example, when it is desired to knockdown the structure preparatory to packing and storing or shipping,

In order that the lamps 25 may be connected to a source of current, such as a house-lighting system, they are equipped with suitable conductors (electric cords) 31, 38, and 40, the first two of which are associated with the lamp 25 of the pillar unit M and the last mentioned one of which is associated with the lamp of the pillar unit l5, there being provided a detachable connector 4! by which the conductors 38 and 40 may be readily connected to and disconnected from each other when assembling and disassembling the pillar units.

The pillars 6 are tied together in a. definite spaced relation by the tie rods 1 and B, opposite ends of the former of which project through the inner side walls 20 of the pillar units It and opposite ends of the latter of which project through the inner side walls 20 of the pillar units i4. As to the tie rods 7 and 8, it is to be observed that their opposite ends are accommodated within collars 42 and 34 carried on the inner walls of the respective pillar units l6 and I4, and that these collars are provided with thumb screws 45 which are adapted to be run down into clamping engagement with the tie rods. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the tie rods '1 and 8 not only maintain the pillars 6 in a. definite spaced relation to each other but so tie the pillars together as to lend rigidity to the entire structure when assembled as shown in Fig. 1.

As to the curtain-like background element l0, it may be constructed of any suitable fabric or similar material, capable of lending a pleasing appearance and an appropriate color contrast with respect to the other elements of the assembly when viewed from the front thereof. The background element is suspended from the tie rod 1 in the manner of an ordinary curtain, extends substantially to the floor line, and overlies the tie rod 8 which is located somewhat forwardly of a vertical plane passing through the tie rod 1. It is to be observed that due to the fact that the tie rod 8 is located somewhat forwardly of the tie rod 1, the background element Ill is supported in part by the tie rod 8 and will be held throughout the major portion of its length at a slight angle with respect to the vertical so as to conform to the inclination of the display panel H which is also suspended from the tie rod "I and overlies the tie rod 8.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the suspension means for the display panel H comprises a pair of hooks 49, which are adapted to be detachably connected to the tie rod 1, and the shank portions of which are suitably connected to the rear face of the upper margin of the display panel ii and are offset, as shown at '48, to an extent corresponding to the thickness of the display panel. As to the major shank-length of the hooks it will be noted that they are disposed at a slight angle to the face of the display panel I l and are adapted to assume vertical positions when the panel is suspended, as shown in Figs. 1 and'3. It is to be observed that, inasmuch as the display panel H overlies the tie rod 8 and is in turn partially supported thereby, it will, by reason of its own weight, so impinge on the background element at a point where it overlies the tie rod as to maintain the background element in a relatively taut condition throughout the major portion of its length.

As to the sign unit l2, it is to be observed that it is detachably connected to and suspended from the tie rod by a pair of hooks, one of which is shown in Fig. 4 and there indicated by the nunieral 49 and both of which are suitably connected to the unit at the rear thereof so that the unit will engage the display-panel hooks 3B and be held thereby against turning from a vertical position in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 to 4. In order that any desired display, such as the exhibitors name or the name of his product, may be conspicuously presented, the sign unit i2 may be formed with a front panel Ell adapted to accommodate such indicia as may be desired, it being understood that the front panel may be of any suitable material or constructed in any suitable manner to'enable a source of light, not shown, to be effectively employed, when housed within the sign unit, to illuminate the sign-unit display. It will be understood that such source of light may also be effectively employed to illuminate the display panel H, which, by reasonof the fact that it is inclined, as hereinbefore explained, will directly receive sufficient downwardly directed light from the interior of the sign unit to render such display as may be carried thereon pronouncedly visible to an observer from the front of the disp ay.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the panel units l4, l5, and iii are such that they, when knocked-down, may be nested one within another as illustrated in Fig. 5,

the nesting arrangement being such that only a comparatively small space is required for storage or shipment. In order that the pillar unit I may be held against undue displacement when nested within the pillar unit M, the side walls 20 of the latter unit are provided with a pair of supported strips 5i against which the front wall is of the pillar unit I5 is adapted to abut, and between such side walls there is provided a transversely disposed strip 52 which is so located as to prevent the nested pillar units from shifting longitudinally with respect to each other. Similarly, the pillar unit I 5 is provided with a pair of supporting strips 54 and a transversely disposed strip 55 which serve to prevent the nested pillar units 15 and I6 from becoming unduly displaced with relation to each other, as explained in connection with the pillar units l4 and I5.

Although the pillar units are adapted to assume a relatively compact relation when nested, it is obvious that ample room is available between such nested units to accommodate the electrical wiring expedients 31, 38, 4B, and M, as when the conductor (electric cord) 31 is disconnected from a lighting circuit and the conductors (electric cords) 38 and 4B are disconnected from each other.

Aside from the fact that the nesting arrangement of the pillar units 1 4, l5, and I6 is such that only a comparatively small space is required for storing or shipping such units, it is to be observed that the remaining elements entering into the structure as a whole, namely, the tie rods 1 and 8, the curtain-like background element Ill, the panel board H and sign unit l2, are such that they may also be stored or packed for shipment in a relatively small space. The advantages to be derived from the conservation of space, both with respect to the pillar units and the remaining elements entering into the structure as a whole, become especially pronounced when a large number of the booths are to be stored or packed for shipment, as will be readily appreciated when it is taken into account that many pillars (represented by groups of nested pillar units) may be packed or crated together, as is also true of the tie rods, the curtain-like background elements, the panel boards and the sign units.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that by the use of the present invention the several objects sought to be attained may be realized with pronounced advantage over present-da practice.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described, it Will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims, as for example various tie rods 7 and 8, curtain-like background elements iii, display panels H and sign units l2 of different standardized lengths, widths and other dimensions may be employed to meet varying requirements, but as to display panels in particular it may be Well to point out that in cases where a large display panel area is required preference is to be given to a plurality of. display panels arranged side-by-side in a spaced relation and of such dimensions as to collectively present the required display surface because of the attractiveness that is presented by such an arrangement over the appearance of a single display panel of relatively extremely large dimensions.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display booth, a plurality of groups of pillar units, the pillar units ofeach group being so proportionally dimensioned with reference to each other as to facilitate their being arranged in a nested relation and adapted to assume end-toend positions when out of nested relation so as to form a plurality of pillars corresponding in number to the number of said groups of pillar units, means for anchoring said pillars to each other in a spaced relation and including a pair of tie rods detachably connected to said pillars, one of said rods being disposed below the other tie rod and slightly to the front of the vertical plane thereof, a curtain-like background element suspended from the upper tie rod, and a display panel detachably suspended from the upper tie rod and disposed intermediate said pillars in a. contiguous relation to said curtain-like background element and overlying the lower tie rod.

2. In a display booth, a plurality of groups of pillar units, the pillar units of each group being so proportionally dimensioned with reference to each other as to facilitate their being arranged in a nested relation and adapted to assume endto-end positions when out of nested relation so as to form a plurality of pillars corresponding in number to the number of said groups of pillar units, means for anchoring said pillars to each other in a spaced relation and including a pair of tie rods detachably connected to said pillars, one of said rods being disposed below the other tie rod and slightly to the front of. the vertical plane thereof, a curtain-like background element suspended from the upper tie rod and overlying the lower tie rod and positioned intermediate said pillars, and a display panel detachably suspended from the upper tie rod and disposed intermediate said pillars in a contiguous relation to said curtain-like background element and overlying the lower tie rod.

3. In a display booth, a plurality of groups of pillar units, the pillar units of each group being so proportionally dimensioned with reference to each other as to facilitate their being arranged in a nested relation and adapted to assume endto-endpositions when out of nested relation so as to form a plurality of pillars corresponding in number to the number of said groups of. pillar units, means for anchoring said pillars to each other in a spaced relation and including a tie rod detachably connected to said pillars, a curtain-like background element suspended from said tie rod and positioned intermediate said pillars, a display panel disposed intermediate said pillars in a contiguous relation to said curtainlike background element, a pair of hook-like members connected to the upper margin of said display panel and adapted to be detachably supported by said tie rod whereby said display panel is detachably suspended therefrom, and a sign unit detachably suspended from said tie rod and adapted to rest against said hook-like members whereby it is maintained in a definite position with relation to said display panel.

l. In a display booth, a plurality of groups of 10 of said groups of pillar units, the front walls of each adjacent pair of pillar units in pillar-forming positions being disposed in offset positions with respect to each other and thus providing therebetween a light opening, illuminating means for supplying flood-light illumination by way of said light openings to the front surface of the front wall of the supported pillar units, and means for anchoring said pillars to each other in a spaced relation.

HENRY R. HOKE. 

